Two-thirds of drivers in 14 big cities with longstanding red light camera programs support their use, a new survey from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety indicates. The findings follow an Institute study demonstrating that cameras have reduced the rate of fatal red light running crashes by 24 percent in these same cities.

Red-light cameras will guard a handful of Melbourne intersections, but not for at least a year while city leaders wait out lawsuits and potential state law changes stemming from the controversial devices.

Police officers and traffic cameras brought in another record amount in 2010, almost reaching the $40-million mark for the first time.

Pensacola News Journal photoThe city of Milton, Fla., (pictured) will soon follow Doral in ending its red-light safety camera warning phase. Doral police will begin issuing fines based on camera evidence on June 30. See the article in The Miami Herald.

A video from a patrolman’s dashboard camera at a routine traffic stop was all Pohatcong Township Council needed to decide if they would install red light cameras at two troubled intersections. The footage showed a truck colliding with a car.

A new and improved Wikipedia article about red-light safety cameras has been posted on this popular free encyclopedia site. The article provides a more up-to-date account of red-light safety camera technology, the issues that surround the program and where and why it is used in the United States and countries around the world. Please take a look.

Des Moines, Wash., and Clayton County, Ga., have signed new contracts with American Traffic Solutions this week. Speed compliance cameras will be installed at selected school zone locations in Des Moines. The agreement in Clayton County provides for Red-Light Safety Cameras to be installed.

I now see that our constitutionally protected liberties include the liberty to do what we want, when we want to do it, especially if the situation is not dangerous to anyone else as determined by ourselves, like knowing when it’s OK to run a red light.

Ever wonder how red-light safety cameras are programmed to snap a photo if a driver runs the light? The process is more than a flash and an automated ticket. In fact, most of it is far from automation.

Under a state Department of Transportation pilot program, thousands of New Jersey drivers have been ticketed for running red lights at intersections monitored by cameras.

“I really think it will be a positive, and it will eventually, we hope, change the behavior and have people start stopping at red lights when they’re supposed to rather than seeing the yellow and speeding up.”Michael Goldfarb, police chief of Eatontown, N.J.
Atlanticville.com (New Jersey), June 30, 2011

“It’s only a matter of time that a more serious accident will occur and someone dies.”Jim Kern III, councilman and mayor-elect of Pohatcong Township, N.J.
The Express-Times (New Jersey), June 24, 2011

MSNBC photo by Nick Ut/AP

CanadaTraffic fatalities have decreased 25 percent in the province of Alberta, Canada, from 2007 to 2010. The province includes the cities of Calgary and Edmonton, two locations using red-light safety cameras. A total of 351 people died on the province’s roads in 2010. SOURCE: Calgary Herald, June 28, 2011.

FloridaPolice officers issued 587 tickets and warnings to red-light runners in the past year in Melbourne. Officers reported 67 red light running crashes involving one fatality and 47 injuries for the past year. This week, the city passed an ordinance to allow red-light safety cameras. SOURCE: FloridaToday.com, June 29, 2011

More than 3,000 warning notices were issued to motorists during Doral’s 90-day red light safety camera phase-in period, for an average of 1,000 notices a month. SOURCE: The Miami Herald, June 27, 2011.

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A unanimous Monroe City Council has decided to mount a legal challenge against an initiative that seeks to give voters here a chance to weigh in on traffic-enforcement cameras. The city now will seek a court order to block the measure from appearing on a ballot.

Cinnaminson Township, which has already approved ATS as its vendor, continued its p﻿ursuit of red-light cameras at selected intersections on Route 130 and Route 73 with the adoption of an ordinance to change the municipal code.

Additional township intersections could be outfitted with red light violation cameras, officials said Tuesday. Traffic safety officers have started the process of researching new, potential locations where cameras could be installed.

The National Coalition for Safer Roads (NCSR) commends the U.S. Conference of Mayors for passing a resolution Sunday strongly supporting the use of red light and speed safety cameras. This important technology helps reduce injuries and fatalities on the nation’s roadways. View resolution.

With the invalidation of last year’s red-light camera vote by a federal judge, Houston officials have a rare opportunity to undo a mistake that has cost the city millions of dollars while undermining public safety.

As the Los Angeles City Council prepares to vote this week on the future of the city’s critical traffic safety camera program, the Traffic Safety Coalition is outlining 10 reasons why the program should stay. No. 1 — zero fatalities.

We think there ought to be a law that requires every story about red-light cameras to begin with a sentence quoting the most-recent official statistics as to how many people are killed and injured in the United States every year by people who run red lights.

A U.S. District Judge has ruled invalid the election to determine if traffic light cameras should have been removed from Houston roadways.

“I don’t understand why there are people quibbling about revenue. This is about saving lives.”Bernard Parks, L.A. councilman and former L.A. police chief
San Francisco Chronicle/SFGate.com (California), June 17, 2011

TexasThe portion of red-light running fines in Houston dedicated to hospital trauma centers has amounted to $9 million since the red-light safety cameras were activated in 2006. SOURCE: Houston Chronicle, June 21, 2011.

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In conjunction with National Safety Month, and to raise awareness about how red-light safety cameras work and the careful steps taken before a violation is determined, American Traffic Solutions released an engaging web-based video this week that takes viewers through every step of the process. See how the Gulfport Patch and The Sacramento Bee covered the announcement. Even better, read CEO James Tuton’s column in the Huffington Post.

Many changes in Florida have affected the finances tied to violations issued through red-light safety cameras, but authorities say drivers have stopped their bad behavior, and serious wrecks are on the decline.

Ross Ritter was sitting at the red light at U.S. 90 and Parkmore Plaza Road in Milton two weeks ago when two cars zoomed by and ran the light. “There is never a cop around when you need one,” Ritter, 67, of Milton thought to himself as the cars whizzed by.

Red-light safety cameras go live this week in New Port Richey. To help motorists understand the definition of a violation, Police Chief Jeffrey Harrington says the key element to a violation is that the entire car has to be behind the stop line when the light goes red.

By next month, Middletown Township is expected to consider whether to contract with a provider to bring red-light safety cameras to five intersections. ATS is one of the finalists for the program.

Ocean Township and Pennsauken, both of New Jersey, signed new contracts with American Traffic Solutions this past week. In Ohio, the city of Akron signed a contract renewal through August 2012. While the city of Greenwood Village, Colo., rounded out the week with a contract renewal as well.

ATS photo
In a final check before bringing the red-light safety camera program online for the city of Palisades Park last week, ATS employees Steve Molina (center) and James Miller (right) ensured all final adjustments were made and all systems were functioning properly. Also pictured are electrician Wayne Steudler (far left) of Carr and Duff electrical construction, and Matt Fink (background) of Palisades Park Police Department in New Jersey.

Three people are dead and one is injured following a three-vehicle crash in Peoria on June 11. The collision occurred at about 3 a.m. Saturday when a truck with two passengers inside ran a red light and collided with another pickup truck carrying a driver, police said.

“This is not about the money. This is about safety; about making intersections safe. This is about teaching people to pay closer attention while driving.”Troy Morgan, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office corporal
The Tampa Tribune/Tampa Bay Online (Florida), June 13, 2011

“We have noticed a decrease in people speeding around the school since the cameras have been up, which means that it’s safer for kids to be walking.”Aimee Miner, Lake Forest Park Elementary School principal
Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Patch (Washington), June 13, 2011

“Officers have limited time for traffic enforcement and are not in the school zones every day.”Dennis Peterson, Lake Forest Park police chief
Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Patch (Washington), June 13, 2011

“There very much is a human element to it. Police officers have to review each and every violation, and those officers are going to have to be comfortable that a violation did indeed exist and look at each one on a case-by-case basis.”Jeffrey Harrington, New Port Richey police chief
Tampa Bay Online (Florida), June 11, 2011

New JerseyBased on an ATS study, a daily average of 42 red-light running violations are expected at an intersection in Palisades Park, N.J. SOURCE: NewJersey.com, June 10, 2011.

Florida
From January 1 through February, Hillsborough County mailed out 33,966 violations. Three of those were for rolling right turn violations. SOURCE: The Tampa Tribune/Tampa Bay Online, June 11, 2011.

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Back in November, Houstonians voted to turn off red light cameras at dozens of intersections. Now we’re getting a look at new figures on accidents in those areas and they paint a different picture than previous data.

Smart phone applications aimed at alerting drivers to speed zones or red light enforcement cameras are causing a bit of a stir. But, it’s not the information found in the phone apps that has police cautioning drivers.

A state-formed residential task force included the use of speed cameras among its list of solutions to curb aggressive driving along a stretch of roadway near two schools that has recently witnessed a series of crashes.

Suburban Journal photo by Rick Graefe

Boynton Beach and Pembroke Pines, Florida, have ended their warning periods and are now issuing $158 fines for running red lights. Milton, Florida, will begin its warning period on June 15.

America Walks and the National Coalition for Safer Roads are working together to help solve the epidemic of preventable pedestrian deaths. Between 2000 and 2009, 47,000 people were killed and 688,000 were injured in the United States while walking, according to a new report from Transportation for America.

My family and I moved to Murrieta a few years ago from a city that was not so safe. Murrieta, the second safest city of its size in the U.S. (in 2009), is an absolute pleasure to live in. We can take walks, shop, go to parks, visit neighbors, or play in our front yard without fear of assault of some kind.

The drivers in Murrieta also know that law enforcement is strict in the city, which is good. Law enforcement officers here take a personal interest in this city, as do I. … These cameras aid law enforcement in making Murrieta a safe place to live. I may start a petition to have cameras at all intersections.

Using data from 2001 to 2006, ISU’s Center for Transportation Research and Education found that crashes related to motorists running red lights fell 40 percent in Davenport after cameras were installed. In Council Bluffs, the decline was 90 percent. Crashes of any kind were down 20 percent in Davenport and 40 percent in Council Bluffs.

Florida
Results from an April 2011 Tallahassee survey found that 71 percent of respondents said they are more likely to stop at red lights and 77 percent are confident that others are more likely to stop knowing cameras are operational in the community. SOURCE: City of Tallahassee/talgov.com, June 3, 2011.

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Seattle police were looking for a hit-and-run driver who jumped the curb in a stolen car late Monday afternoon and struck a 9-year-old girl, breaking both her legs. The driver ran at least one red light in his flight from police.

In response to increasing complaints about red light runners, College Station Police Department is innovating new ways to catch offenders. (Editor’s note: A 2009 public vote removed red-light safety cameras in College Station.)

Motorists in Colorado Springs appear to be thinking twice before stepping on the gas to beat a yellow light, as the number of tickets handed out to motorists running red lights at intersections equipped with high-definition cameras dropped nearly 30 percent in the program’s first six months.

ATS is working with Driving MBA to enhance materials for high school driver’s education programs to include information about ways to safely approach an intersection and the dangerous consequences of red-light running.

While we know there will still be those who’ll never warm to the concept of traffic cameras, we’re glad that Gov. Bill Haslam has committed to signing into law legislation that puts some restrictions and statewide consistency on these traffic safety tools.

Red-light cameras in our county should not be removed. This seems like a very obvious response to the question when we understand the cameras are there to save lives, but as I’ve learned, even the most obvious needs defending.

The numbers are in, and fewer drivers are running red lights, at least at four intersections in Colorado Springs where red-light cameras have been installed.

“Nothing is so important you have to get there two seconds sooner than taking an extra light cycle, it might take two or three minutes out of your day but it might save your life or somebody elses.”Pat Rigdon, Colorado Springs Police Department lieutenant
KOAA TV Channel 5 (Colorado), May 29, 2011

“I know everybody says it’s a speed trap, but we had 51 or more wrecks at that intersection. We did a lot of things before we went to the camera, and the camera seemed to be our final hope. I know people don’t like them because they get caught. But that thing has probably saved lives.”Joe Parker, Huntingdon, Tenn., police chief
Daily Reporter (Indiana), May 28, 2011

“I understand some people didn’t like them, but they worked. They made intersections a safer place.”Bill Haslam, Tennessee governor and former Knoxville mayor
Daily Reporter (Indiana), May 28, 2011

“We put it in for safety. We’ve caught some running over 100 mph through there. … I assume (lawmakers) don’t care if people speed.”Don Weaver, city manager of Bluff City, Tennessee
Daily Reporter (Indiana), May 28, 2011

“Let’s not forget the focus of the program is to change driving behaviors for the better … and hopefully that behavior will carry over into other intersections — whether there’s photo enforcement or not.”Steve Noblitt, Colorado Springs Police Department sergeant
The Gazette (Colorado), May 28, 2011